View full sizeAn ice rescue crew aboard a Special Purpose Craft-Air, from Coast Guard Station Saginaw River, in Essexville, rescues two men from an ice floe in Saginaw Bay near Hampton Charter Township, on Feb. 18, 2013.
The two men were ice fishing when the ice floe broke free and left them stranded.U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Wolner

KAWKAWLIN, MI — The U.S. Coast Guard assisted a man off an ice floe in Saginaw Bay near the mouth of the Kawkawlin River on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 12.

Due to the recent trend of warmer temperatures and with spring fast approaching, the Coast Guard is warning people to stay off old, weathered ice.

Coast Guard search coordinators at Coast Guard Sector Detroit and the 9th Coast Guard District in Cleveland both received phone calls about a man who was stranded on an ice floe in Saginaw Bay about 12:40 p.m.

One of the phone calls coming from the stranded man himself, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard crews launched a helicopter from Air Station Detroit and a 20-foot Special Purpose Craft-Air from Coast Guard Station Saginaw River in Essexville.

The airboat crew arrived on scene first and assisted the man back to shore, according to the Coast Guard. He was found to be in good condition and did not request medical attention.

The rescue is a "perfect example" of how ice can be unsafe and hazardous to ice enthusiasts, according to the coast guard, adding that ice conditions throughout the Great Lakes are becoming increasingly unsafe with each passing day.

"With the prediction of warmer temperatures, there is a concern that people will be at risk for falling through the ice or becoming stranded on an ice floe," said Capt. Stephen Torpey, chief of response at the 9th Coast Guard District.

“Ice enthusiasts in the Great Lakes are likely to see deteriorating ice conditions and are strongly recommended to take extra precautions with their safety."

The Coast Guard warns people to never venture out on the ice alone and always tell someone where you are going and how long you intend to be gone. The Coast Guard also recommends that a flotation device be carried when near or on the water.

Although the Coast Guard cautions against going out on the ice, they continue to provide precautions and advise people to refer to the I.C.E. acronym as a precaution:

Intelligence - Know the weather and ice conditions, know where you are going and know how to call for help. Never go out alone.

Clothing - Have the proper clothing to prevent hypothermia. Wear a waterproof exposure suit and a life jacket.

Equipment - Have the proper equipment. Carry two ice picks or screwdrivers, in case you fall in. Use these items to dig into the ice and pull yourself out. Carry a whistle or noise maker to alert people that you are in distress. Carry a cellular phone or marine band radio in a waterproof container to call for help if you come across trouble.